Teaching Effects Of PBL Applied Into Course

Background:Problem-Based Learning(PBL)was initially designed by Professor Barrows,a famous major in neuropathy,at McMaster University in Canada in 1969.Its characteristic is to focus on students while teachers act as a guider during the PBL was used in the course.Simply speaking, students will acquire knowledge through resolving problems.Compared to the traditional teaching pattern,PBL is very different.PBL pattern is popular in western countries,especially in many medical colleges.These years,PBL have been attempted in some medical colleges in China,but it was still at a beginning stage.In order to explore the advantages and disadvantages, PBL pattern was applied into some physiology courses in three years,at the same time the information about the effects of PBL was collected in the students through questionnaires.The influence of PBL pattern was investigated in students and the effect of PBL was estimated in the study.Methods:(1)The important contents,basic conception was provided by teachers and the design of PBL was proceed.(2)PBL pattern will be applied into parts of physiology courses for 176 college students divided into several group,each group was consisted of 5 or 6 students at Shanxi Medical University.(3)A five stages teaching pattern which is putting forward questions-establishing supposition-collecting data-disscussing supposition-summarization.(4) Questionnaires for PBL were collected during the various stages of PBL pattern,also making following questionnaires were carried out one year later.Results:(1)There were no significant difference of individual factors of characteristics of high school,birth place and the results of PBL between different groups(P＞0.05).(2)60%to 80% Students considered that PBL pattern could intensify their abilities of studying independently, communicating with others and teamwork,that stimulate their interests in studying increased to from 3.4%to 23.4%before experiments(P＜0.05).What is more,their attitudes for using network have changed apparently,from 84.5%to 90.3%(P＜0.05).(3)68.6%students considered PBL pattern to be effective,and 74.8%students consider that PBL pattern should be applied widely.79.4%students could combine PBL with their study consciousness.Conclusion:1.PBL pattern is helpful for increasing students' knowledge,interests and initiative in studying,and learning efficiency. 2.PBL pattern can enhance students' abilities of independent study,interpersonal communication and resolving problem.